Authorities have apprehended James Stewart Carroll, the director of a prominent preschool in Washington, D.C., on serious child abuse allegations. This shocking incident has raised significant concerns among parents and the community regarding the safety and well-being of children in educational environments.

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In-Depth Look at the Arrest of Washington, D.C. Preschool Director

According to reports from PEOPLE, James Stewart Carroll, who leads a preschool in Northwest D.C., was charged on November 19 with attempted enticement of a minor. A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office reveals that Carroll allegedly engaged in conversations via the Discord app with an undercover officer posing as the father of a child. Fox5DC further highlights that Discord initiated an investigation into Carroll after a concerned employee flagged a file suspected of containing child sexual abuse material uploaded to their servers on September 11.

As reported by PEOPLE, the undercover agent masqueraded as a separated father claiming to have been abusing his 9-year-old son during custody weekends. The Independent reveals that during these conversations, James Stewart Carroll encouraged the agent to perpetuate the abuse, as documented in court records. This alarming behavior has raised questions about the safety protocols in place within educational institutions.

“Carroll directed the undercover officer to abuse his child over a period of approximately two weeks. Law enforcement agents identified Carroll as the Discord user based on IP addresses that traced back to both his residence and workplace,” the press release notes. Such explicit instructions from a trusted educator are deeply troubling and have sparked outrage among parents and community members.

NBC4 Washington, referencing federal court documents, adds that James Stewart Carroll, who is also affiliated with the National Child Research Center, allegedly discussed explicit child exploitation content with other Discord users. According to The Washington Post, the complaint revealed disturbing conversations where he discussed topics including “child sexual exploitation, circumcision of teenage boys, and urinating on teenage boys and adults,” as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. This behavior highlights the urgent need for monitoring online interactions among educators.

Critical Insights on James Stewart Carroll and Future Proceedings

PEOPLE reports that James Stewart Carroll made his court appearance on November 19, with his next hearing scheduled for Monday, November 25. NBC4 Washington notes that Carroll has been at the helm of the National Child Research Center since 2018, making his alleged actions even more shocking given his influential role in child education and research.

In response to the arrest, NCRC Board Chair Megan Ortiz reached out to parents via a letter, emphasizing that she had instructed James Stewart Carroll to refrain from returning to campus or contacting any NCRC staff or families. She expressed deep shock and concern about his actions, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

“While we do not have reason to believe Mr. Carroll’s conduct involves NCRC students or families, we do understand the arrest and charging follows an FBI investigation into Mr. Carroll’s online activity on social media channels and message boards. Mr. Carroll has been instructed that he is not permitted to return to campus for any reason and is not to contact any member of the NCRC community. His access to his email, the school’s networks, and all school-owned technology has been cut off. Like you, my Board colleagues and I are shocked and deeply unsettled by this news,” Megan Ortiz wrote in the letter.

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